Nevada higher education faces a 34 to 50% cut for the coming year, following a 36% cut for the previous year. It is devestating. A rally at UNLV during a high wind advisory and on a work night for many students was sparcely attended, leading the media to report apathy and disinterest. My observations as a college adjunct instructor with 12 years experience, is that students are simply tired from the recession and what they need to do to stay afloat and in school in the current economy.

 There are other reasons and reasons to rally being supporting higher eduation in the face of a strong movement to cut and cut and minimize any effort to become educated as "elitist" and instuctors as "leftist elite."

The reality is that the rally came during midterm season for students and right after CSN's spring break (early this year). Both put chills on the crowd. Many had class that night. Also, Thursday is a common evening for students to have "day-jobs". Just a few ideas on why funding needs to be increased and not cut, a few important points for those who understand the real issue is not high paid educrats but the students and the people of the state...

1. The need to trained and educated individuals for the future health and growth of the state

2. The need to keep Nevadans in Nevada for their education or face a "brain drain"

3. The irreplaceable value of the existing faculty, adjuncts and staff

4. The role of higher education in diversifying the economy

5. The need for students to be able to plan their graduation based on courses being open, available and taught

6.how higher education stimulates other jobs and attracts business and industry to the state

7. The unique role of CSN in feeding Nevada State and supplementing UNLV

8. The unique role of CSN in providing worker retraining and in skilled certificates

9. The dedication and experience of CSN teachers compared to UNLV or Nevada State

10. The inability of students to pay the private college rip off prices

11. The key role of CSN in providing a multi-cultural, international and personal growth "safe" environment.